Austin Buchanan
@austinbuchanan.bsky.social
Head of Scouting, Recruitment, & Player Development @TMJ
Former: RacingLou/LouCity & Bay FC
Former: RacingLou/LouCity & Bay FC
I see the US is testing the “how many hungover champions can play in one lineup” theory
The sunshine state starters ☀️
USWNT x The Home Depot
USWNT x The Home Depot
November 28, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I see the US is testing the “how many hungover champions can play in one lineup” theory
She should be off. That’s an insane decision
November 23, 2025 at 2:40 AM
She should be off. That’s an insane decision
Gift Monday needs to make her….presence felt right now
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Gift Monday needs to make her….presence felt right now
Here’s my take- the NWSL *can* keep players without raising the cap (my first vote is just raise the cap), but introducing/re-introducing “Right to Purchase” allocation money *thats tradeable*. We had it (and as far as I know this is the only time it was done in the league) when a Racing was formed
The good news for the NWSL: women’s soccer is growing thanks to increased investment and competition.
The bad news for the NWSL: women’s soccer is growing and the current salary cap is not gonna cut it.
Trinity Rodman is the final test. All in? Or fall behind? www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
The bad news for the NWSL: women’s soccer is growing and the current salary cap is not gonna cut it.
Trinity Rodman is the final test. All in? Or fall behind? www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
NWSL can’t keep Trinity Rodman and its current salary cap. It’s up to the league to choose
The rest of the world, and its biggest clubs, are watching the league's decision closely.
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Here’s my take- the NWSL *can* keep players without raising the cap (my first vote is just raise the cap), but introducing/re-introducing “Right to Purchase” allocation money *thats tradeable*. We had it (and as far as I know this is the only time it was done in the league) when a Racing was formed
The bigger thing here is the USA is the hub of commercial and endorsement activity for women’s sports currently - by a significant margin
I bet a significantly larger percentage of the Spanish population know Putellas or English know Chloe Kelly than American's know any of those 3 by genuinely an order of magnitude.
November 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The bigger thing here is the USA is the hub of commercial and endorsement activity for women’s sports currently - by a significant margin
This is an excellent thread that begins to hint at the problem of hiring coaches - I have said many times it is THE HARDEST thing from my team side career. It’s hard to judge, hard to gauge, I would re do every process if I could and even then I wouldn’t feel confident. This is all so amorphous
Whether you say the job of a head coach is to man manage or make in-game calls or develop young players or argue for better signings (etc etc) two HCs in the same league won’t be necessarily be doing the same job, because not all teams are equal. You can talk about parity all you like,
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 AM
This is an excellent thread that begins to hint at the problem of hiring coaches - I have said many times it is THE HARDEST thing from my team side career. It’s hard to judge, hard to gauge, I would re do every process if I could and even then I wouldn’t feel confident. This is all so amorphous
Oooooh hopping in this is fun - I actually think the discourse on CotY is fascinating - but in a different manner than being discussed - how do you separate what V did from a roster construction standpoint with the current discussion of CotY?
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Oooooh hopping in this is fun - I actually think the discourse on CotY is fascinating - but in a different manner than being discussed - how do you separate what V did from a roster construction standpoint with the current discussion of CotY?
I think this is both a fascinating view of the parity of the NWSL but also a fascinating question of it
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I think this is both a fascinating view of the parity of the NWSL but also a fascinating question of it
Risa with an unreal goal line save for Liverpool
November 9, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Risa with an unreal goal line save for Liverpool
Morocco winning the U20 WC while I’m in Morocco is so cool
October 20, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Morocco winning the U20 WC while I’m in Morocco is so cool
That body feint, turn, and drive is why Bevar is special. Plays in transition, plays possession, just different gravy
October 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
That body feint, turn, and drive is why Bevar is special. Plays in transition, plays possession, just different gravy
Of NWSL players who have played over 1200 minutes (my cutoff for “significant contributors”) Ella Hase from Racing Louisville is 4th in the entire league. If you take it to open play xG - she goes to 3rd(!!). What a season from her as a rookie.
September 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Of NWSL players who have played over 1200 minutes (my cutoff for “significant contributors”) Ella Hase from Racing Louisville is 4th in the entire league. If you take it to open play xG - she goes to 3rd(!!). What a season from her as a rookie.
The “smartest guy and hardest working guy” in football cut the analytics keen assistant GM first?
Sources telling me that DC United has cut the entirety of its scouting department as the club continues its overhaul under new sporting director Erkut Sogut & head coach Rene Weiler. Assitant GM Caleb Shreve among those let go (that bit first reported by my guy @tombogert.bsky.social the other day.)
September 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The “smartest guy and hardest working guy” in football cut the analytics keen assistant GM first?
I, for one, am completely here for it.
And Kundananji absolutely deserves this level of recognition. Her underlyings have been elite for two years. She’s a star
And Kundananji absolutely deserves this level of recognition. Her underlyings have been elite for two years. She’s a star
the stars in this league are chawinga, banda and kundananji and i really need the league and some fans to be ok with that
September 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I, for one, am completely here for it.
And Kundananji absolutely deserves this level of recognition. Her underlyings have been elite for two years. She’s a star
And Kundananji absolutely deserves this level of recognition. Her underlyings have been elite for two years. She’s a star
I hate this sport sometimes
September 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I hate this sport sometimes
Payton Linnehan changes things for Carolina - gives them another stretch threat and she’s a talented footballer that doesn’t kill their link up play and build up play. (Not an unbiased post though, we rep her)
Think she gives them another dimension
Think she gives them another dimension
September 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Payton Linnehan changes things for Carolina - gives them another stretch threat and she’s a talented footballer that doesn’t kill their link up play and build up play. (Not an unbiased post though, we rep her)
Think she gives them another dimension
Think she gives them another dimension
55 for Wissa is just wow
September 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
55 for Wissa is just wow
Was wrong on the set piece, but the wide areas in transition were Racings key offensive attacks on the night and the goal was Hase to Sears sooooooooo
If Racing wins it, I would imagine it’s because the wide play from Sears/Sonis/Hase thrive in transition. Racing will control transitional moments and create havoc. Probably get one on a set piece too.
August 25, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Was wrong on the set piece, but the wide areas in transition were Racings key offensive attacks on the night and the goal was Hase to Sears sooooooooo
Today’s matches carry huge potential for the playoff race in NWSL. I’m really excited about both of them from a stylistic perspective as well. SD v Racing is a classic in possession dominance versus out of possession misery styles make fights matchup.
August 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Today’s matches carry huge potential for the playoff race in NWSL. I’m really excited about both of them from a stylistic perspective as well. SD v Racing is a classic in possession dominance versus out of possession misery styles make fights matchup.
We saw huge benefits here at Bay - I would add to this - hire people who are also curious about data and analytics. It will blend in an extremely cool way
Tip for every professional soccer club in the world, all levels: hire at least one person who *legit* understands data/analytics, and if you're hiring adjacent roles, pro-actively look for people who understand data/analytics. You will reap the benefit by broadening actual data knowledge in house
August 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
We saw huge benefits here at Bay - I would add to this - hire people who are also curious about data and analytics. It will blend in an extremely cool way
I just have so many personnel questions with some teams
August 19, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I just have so many personnel questions with some teams
Goodness me
NCAA - Stanford vs Santa Clara
xG (Post-Shot xG)
4.51 (5.49) - Stanford
0.34 (0.12) - Santa Clara
xG Leader - 1.06 - Andrea Kitahata (STAN)
xA Leader - 0.91 - Jasmine Aikey (STAN)
xG (Post-Shot xG)
4.51 (5.49) - Stanford
0.34 (0.12) - Santa Clara
xG Leader - 1.06 - Andrea Kitahata (STAN)
xA Leader - 0.91 - Jasmine Aikey (STAN)
August 19, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Goodness me
This has been such a welcome change - it was less common when I started working in USL-C to see this, but these guys plus Adeniran, Wynder, Watts, the list has grown so much - this is the road to a healthy development ecosystem!
The other thing I’ve pointed out before: with how guys like Osaze, Musovski, White, Ilovski, Tani and a few others have translated their lower tier productivity to MLS… if your front office is not scouting the hell out of Next PRO & USL, they’re not doing their jobs.
August 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
This has been such a welcome change - it was less common when I started working in USL-C to see this, but these guys plus Adeniran, Wynder, Watts, the list has grown so much - this is the road to a healthy development ecosystem!
A thing that always fascinates me across leagues - the NWSL has had more unique Shield winners (best regular season) over the last 5 years than the WSL has had unique winners in its history. The roster continuity, mechanics, rule changes, just have created drastically different outcomes
August 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A thing that always fascinates me across leagues - the NWSL has had more unique Shield winners (best regular season) over the last 5 years than the WSL has had unique winners in its history. The roster continuity, mechanics, rule changes, just have created drastically different outcomes
Is Leicy Santos the best Direct Free Kick taker in the world of women’s football right now?
August 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Is Leicy Santos the best Direct Free Kick taker in the world of women’s football right now?